authorities say he shot tsa officer gerardo hernandez at point-blank range, sending passengers in the security screening area running for cover. investigators say then ciancia went up an escalator but after apparently spotting hernandez still moving on the floor, he doubled back to shoot him again, killing hernandez. >> there was a pause, and so i looked down the escalator and i saw the gunman, he had his gun trained on the guy on the wall there and he shot him twice. >> reporter: in the end, two more tsa officers and a traveler were hit. l.a.x. police shot ciancia several times in the face and neck. he's alive but in his condition, he remains unresponsive. earlier friday morning, ciancia sent his family in new jersey rambling text messages. a woman who says she knows him says ciancia said he was going to commit suicide. the family alerted authorities, who then asked lapd to do a welfare check. if only police had gotten to his place just 45 minutes earlier, they might have stopped the rampage. but ciancia was already gone. he demanded a ride to the airport from one of his roommates. c